Nigeria and the Kingdom of Denmark have strengthened their collaboration in livestock development with the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) for Phase II of the Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) Programme in Livestock Production.
The agreement, signed on 7th of june 2026, in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries is aimed at accelerating livestock transformation, improving food and nutrition security, enhancing animal health systems and promoting agricultural innovation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, described the agreement as a renewal of a successful partnership that has become a model for international cooperation in the livestock sector.
According to the Minister, the collaboration has already produced significant results, including the training of more than 100 Nigerian officials in key areas such as food and feed safety management, animal disease surveillance, antimicrobial resistance control, climate adaptation and veterinary regulation.
Maiha also announced the commencement of a joint antimicrobial resistance pilot programme in Oyo and Kano States, describing it as a practical demonstration of the benefits of the partnership.
The Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens Ole Bach Hansen said the second phase of the programme would move beyond institutional capacity building to focus on practical implementation. He noted that attention would be directed towards field-based interventions, disease prevention, biosecurity measures, surveillance systems and support for farmers and livestock value chains.
Also speaking, the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Eva Edwards, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening collaboration in feed management, food safety, traceability systems, veterinary drug regulation and data sharing.
Representing the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Project Manager Alex Sigersen commended the commitment shown by Nigerian institutions and stakeholders throughout the first phase of the programme. He expressed confidence that the new phase would translate technical cooperation into tangible benefits for farmers, communities and the livestock industry.
The event was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, directors and senior officials of the ministry, representatives of NAFDAC and officials from the Danish Embassy and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.
The renewed partnership is expected to further strengthen Nigeria’s livestock sector, improve food safety standards, enhance disease prevention efforts and support the development of a more resilient and globally competitive livestock industry.
